Handle connection for diagnostic instruments



y 1954 M. R. THORBURN EI'AL HANDLE CONNECTION FOR DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENTS Filed May 21, 1951 INVENTORS MILTON E. THOEBUPN 650265 E scw /v/ A1:TOIZNEYS Patented May 11, 1954 UNITED STATES HANDLE CONNECTION FOR DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENTS Milton R. Thor-burn, Williamsville, and George F. Schenk, Buffalo, N. Y., assignors to American Optical Company, Southbridge, Mass., a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application May 21, 1951, Serial No. 227,482

6 Claims.

This invention relates to ophthalmic and diagnostic instruments and the like and more particularly to such instruments having light sources and readily detachable handles containing batteries for energizing said light sources.

It is common practice in the medical and ophthalmic professions to employ in a single diagnostic set several difierent instruments, such as retinoscopes, otoscopes, ophthalmoscopes, endoscopes, tongue depressors, transilluminators and the like, and to provide in such a set a single handle containing flashlight batteries or the like to which any one of these instruments may be selectively attached for use.

Such instruments are interchanged frequently and are intended to give long service and, accordingly, the connection between the handle and the instrument should be steady and rigid while in use, easily and readily detachable and, if the light source is detachable with the instrument, the detachable connection must provide a firm positive electrical connection therethrough while in use. Since certain instruments, such as ophthalmoscopes and retinoscopes, function at highest efii ciency when the right intensities of light are available, it is also desirable to provide for such instruments readily adjustable means for controlling the amount of current being supplied said light source. At the same time the control for the light source must be of such a construction that it may be easily manipulated.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide in such a diagnostic instrument between the head portion thereof and handie a detachable connection which provides a firm, rigid attachment therebetween during use and which allows the handle to be easily and readily removed when desired.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide for such a diagnostic instrument having an illuminating bulb and batteries for energizing same a detachable connection which allows the bulb within the head portion of the instrument to be readily disconnected from the handle portion so as to be replaced by another when desired, the construction providing ready removal of the bulb and bulb supporting means for replacement or the like and an exact positioning of the bulb and its accurately centered filament in a predetermined operative position within the head automatically when replaced.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial elevational view of a diagnostic instrument showing in cross-section parts of the handle and head portions thereof and detachable connecting means therebetween;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, somewhat enlarged, of the lower end of the head portion of the diagnostic instrument of Fig. 1 but as viewed from the right side thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 2 but as viewed from the opposite side thereof;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the structure of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is top plan view of handle portion of the instrument of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially upon section line 6-6 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figs. 7 and 8 are plan views of two different elements of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially upon section line 99 of Fig. '7; and

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the head portion of a difierent diagnostic instrument which may readily replace the head portion of the instrument shown in Fig. 1 when desired.

Referring to Fig. 1 in particular, it will be seen that the numeral I0 indicates generally an ophthalmic instrument which in the present instance is an ophthalmoscope having the head portion l2 thereof detachably secured upon the upper end of a plastic covered handle portion M. This handle portion may contain conventional battery means It therein insertable through the bottom (not shown) of the casing i l in much the same manner as commonly employed in flashlight construction. The upper end of the casing Hi, however, is of special construction having in fixed relation thereon an inwardly flanged collar [8 arranged to receive in fixed relation therewith an upstanding tubular socket member 2!). This socket member 20, as best seen in Fig. 5 is provided with inwardly extended spaced flanges or arcuate projections 22 which form at three circumferentially spaced locations openings 24 about a central bore 26. The arrangement thus provides a set of three entrance slots for receiving three circumferentially spaced lugs or projections 28 (see Figs. 3 and 4) formed on a specially constructed connecting member 30 constituting the main supporting means for the head portion of the diagnostic instrument l0.

Within the upper end of the tubular casing I4 is positioned a rheostat supporting member 32 which rests upon bosses 33 pressed inwardly in the casing wall and is held from rotation by a finger 3 t bent inwardly therefrom and fitting into a slot in member 32. The supporting member 32 may be held against upward movement by suitable means which in the present preferred construction comprise upwardly projecting arms 35 integrally molded as part of the plastic member 32. Thereafter the flanged collar [8 may be fixedly secured upon the tubular casing It 3 in any suitable manner and will prevent upward movement of arms 35. The supporting member 32 is formed of an electrically insulating material and has secured thereto at its under side a transversely extending battery contact bar 36, one end of which is secured (see Fig. 6) through rivet means to a resistance wire 31 carried on a core 38 likewise secured to the supporting member 32.

Centrally carried upon the supporting member 32 is a pivot 59 for a movable contact lever All which has a resilient arm thereof in brushing contact with the wire-wound resistor 38 and has an opposite bifurcated end thereof positioned to straddle a downwardly extending lug M: of .a molded plastic control ring 42. This ring is seated on and has sliding engagement with the upper surface of the flanged collar l8 and is arranged to pivot about the tubular socket member 263 when the instrument is in use. This ring (if! is in turn retained in place for movement about the tubular socket member 20 by a split-resilient retaining collar 44 or the like. The downwardly projecting lug Lil extends through an arcuate slot 43 of proper length in the flange of the collar member i8 so that control ring 42 may swing through a suitable angle to allow adequate adjustment of the resilient arm of lever as through the full length of the wire-wound resistorZ-EB and even to an off position with the arm engaging the core 38 beyond the end of the wire 3'5.

The metallic connecting member 36, which has its upper end embedded in themolded plastic or die case metallic material of which the housing of the head I2 is formed, as stated above, has preferably three projecting lugs 28 formed integrally therewith and so spaced about the periphery of part 30 as to fit into the bore 26 formed in the socket member 20 when the head is positioned upon the handle portion. The lower ends of the lugs 28 are beveled as indicated at 46 and are arranged to engage generally upwardly facing and outwardly sloping beveled surfaces 48 upon a resiliently supported floating ring 52 positioned within the hollow lower part of tubular member 28 and this ring is constantly pressed upwardly toward the upper end of the supporting member 20 by a relatively heavy coil spring The spring 54 engages at its lower end a part 55 fixed relatively to socket member 26 and an internal shoulder on this member limits the upward movement of the ring 52.

The ring 52 (see Figs. '7 and 9) is provided upon its beveled surface 48 with a set of circumferentially spaced slightly recessed seat portions 58 which thus provide spaced raised surfaces 59. Also this ring 52 is prevented from rotation within socket member 25 by a slot 5d formed in its outer edge and arranged toreceive a locating pin 62 fixedly carried in a side wall of the socket member. The position of this pin 62 is such that as the connecting member 36 is inserted into the top of the socket member 29 the beveled surfaces 46 on lugs 28 will come into engagement with the higher beveled surfaces 59. If the instrument head and thus the ring 52 are then pressed downwardly so as to compress the spring 54, upper shoulder portions 53 on each lug 28 may be caused to engage beneath the arcuate projections 22 of the socket member as by rotating the head portion relative to the handle portion of the instrument. This will cause the lugs 28 to swing beneath the projections 22 and when the head has been rotated sufficiently the beveled surfaces 46 of the lugs 28 sliding relative to the raised beveled portions 59 of the ring 52, will approach and engage recess portions 58 and at such time the ring 52 will snap upwardly so as to engage and firmly hold the head against undesired rotation in either direction. Beveled shoulders 6 and 65 adjacent each recess facilitate disengagement of the parts and such en agement and disengagement may be effected by relative rotation of the head in either direction. Thus the headof the instrument will be retained firmly in proper position for use upon the handle portion 14.

Within a hollow central passage 66 formed in connecting member 30 and in the housing of the head portion [2 is an elongated tubular member 61 arranged to closely fit the passage and snugly receive in its upper end a flanged mounting sleeve 88 to which a prefocused filament bulb of the miniature type has been accurately secured so as to place the filament thereof not only in a central position relative to the optical axis 69 of the instrument, but also at a proper object plane relative to the optical system (not shown) of the instrument. The tubular member 61 is pressed inwardly into the passage E5 and holds the flange of sleeve 68 .in firm engagement with an upper internal shoulder 1?] of the head portion [2. The bulb will thus be firmly held in its proper operative position, and to assure such positioning of the bulb, a resilient slightly cupped washer E2 having a plurality of inwardly extending spring fingers I4 is provided within the socket member 20 and is held in place therein by heavy spring 54 pressing same into engagement with the part 55. The finger portions 74 of this washer-like member resiliently urge the lower end of the tubular member 6'; upwardly and at such'time the tubular member will be held in proper angular. position within the connecting member 39 by an outwardly struck boss 7% fitting into a slot H in the lower end thereof.

The tubular member 61 in turn receives an insulating bushing '18 which may be normally retained in fixed relation to the tubular member 61 in any preferred and known manner and within this insulating bushing '22, are slidably re tained by flanged end portions thereof a pair of metallic plungers and 8| having a compression spring 82 soldered or brazed thereto in such a manner as to make a good electrical connec tion therebetween. The result is that a firm pressing engagement between the conductive pivot member 39 of the rheostat and lower plunger 80 is obtained and a similar firm engagement obtained between the upper plunger 8! and the central contact of the prefocused miniature bulb.

Thus it will be seen that the head portion ii of the instrument may be readily disengaged from the handle portion M by exerting either clockwise or counter-clockwise rotational pressure upon the head portion l2 to cause the floating ring 52 to be depressed as the beveled surfaces 46 ride up the beveled shoulders 64 or and onto the surfaces 59. Further rotation will cause the lugs 28 to be moved into alignment with the slots 24 at which-time the spring 54 will move the head portion upwardly slightly. The head may then be lifted upwardly free from the handle. The tubular member 61 carrying the resilient plungers 8B and 8| will remain in the connecting member 30 and will be separated from the handle portion. Howevenshould it be desired to re. place the miniature bulb, the tubular member which hasits lower knurled end extending outwardly of the connecting member 30 so as to be readily accessible; may be gripped by the fingers of the operator of the instrument and pulled downwardly and out of the connecting member 36 and the bulb may be readily lifted from the tubular member at such times.

In Fig. is shown a diiferent diagnostic instrument head l2 which may have, in like manner, a prefocused bulb positioned therein and which may be provided with a similar supporting and. connecting base portion 30' with similar projecting lugs 28 so that this head portion may be readily substituted for the instrument shown in Fig. 1. To place the head portion upon the handle portion it is merely necessary to insert the part 30' in the socket 29 with the lugs in the openings 24, press the head inwardly and then turn the head clockwise until the floating ring 52 snaps into a firm holding position.

In each instrument, when the head and handle portions are assembled for use, there will be established a firm electrical connection from the center of the battery 16 through the bar 36, resistance wire 37, sliding contact 49 and spring pressed plungers 8B and 8| to the center of the bulb while the opposite or negative side of the battery will be securely connected thereto by means of the sleeves El and 68, the spring washer l2, fixed parts 55 and I3 and the casing it. In this manner while the head and handle portions of the instrument may be easily and readily disconnected the structure provides, nevertheless, when the parts are connected as shown in Fig. 1, a firm, physical connection therebetween as well as electrical connections which will always maintain a good electrical circuit between the batteries and the bulb.

Having described our invention we claim:

1. In a diagnostic instrument or the like having a head portion and a handle portion connected together and adapted to be disconnected from each other when not in use, said instrument having connecting means comprising a socket member carried in fixed relation to said handle portion and having a central opening therein, a connecting member carried in fixed relation to said head portion and of such size as to fit within said opening, said socket memher having an electrical contact for supplying current centrally located therein and a plurality of equally spaced inwardly extending flanges formed on said socket member, said connecting member having an elongated passage therein and having a plurality of outwardly directed projections thereon and equally spaced from each other so as to receive said flanges therebetween, said plurality of equally spaced flanges and equally spaced projections allowing said head portion to be disposed in any one of a plurality of positions when said connecting member and said socket member are being assembled for use, a ring shapedL locking member movable positioned within said socket, resilient means within said socket and urging said looking member toward said spaced flanges and the opening in the end of said socket, said projections engaging said locking member as the head portion is being operatively positioned upon said handle portion and pressing said locking member inwardly against the action of said resilient means, said projections being provided with shoulders movable into alignment with said spaced flanges by rotational movement of said head portion relative to said handle portion while locking member is pressed inwardly, tubular means frictionally fitting within said elongated passage and having an opening in its upper end for receiving and removably supporting a concentrated filament bulb in a predetermined position within said head portion, and having its lower end extending downwardly beyond said connecting member and within said ring shaped locking member, yieldable electrical means within said tubular means and having operative contact at one end, with said bulb and at the opposed end with said electrical contact in said socket, said tubular means being movable with said head portion when said head portion is detached from said handle portion, said tubular means thereafter being readily separable from said head portion, said shoulders on said projections and said flanges on said socket serving in conjunction with said. locking member and resilient means to firmly maintain said head portion in fixed operative relation to said handle portion.

2. In a diagnostic instrument or the like having a head portion and a handle portion connected together and adapted to be disconnected from each other when not in use, said instrument having connecting means comprising a socket member carried in fixed relation to said handle portion and having a central opening therein, a connecting member carried in fixed relation to said head portion and of such size as to fit within said opening, said socket member having an electrical contact for supplying current centrally located therein and a plurality of equally spaced inwardly extending flanges formed on said socket member, said connecting member having an elongated passage therein and having a plurality of outwardly directed projections thereon and equally spaced from each other so as to receive said flanges therebetween, said plurality of equally spaced flanges and equally spaced projections allowing said head portion to be disposed in any one of a plurality of positions when said connecting member and said socket member are being assembled for use, a ring shaped locking member movably positioned within said socket and having a plurality of equally spaced recesses formed therein, resilient means within said socket and urging said locking member toward said spaced flanges and the opening in the end of said socket, means carried by said locking member and by said socket for preventing rotation of said locking member, said projections engaging said locking member as the head portion is being operatively positioned upon said handle portion and pressing said locking member inwardly against the action of said resilient means, said projections being provided with shoulders movable into alignment with said spaced flanges by rotational movement of said head portion relative to said handle portion while the locking member is pressed inwardly, said recesses being so disposed relative to said spaced flanges as to be engaged by said projecions upon rotational movement of said projections into substantial alignment with said flanges, thereby effecting an engagement between said projections and said recesses releasably locking said head portion against undesired rotation, tubular means frictionally fitting within said elongated passage and having an opening in its upper end for receiving and removably supporting a concentrated filament bulb in a predetermined position within said head portion, and having its lower end extending downwardly beyond said connecting member and within said ring shaped locking member, yieldable electrical means within said tubular means and having operative contact at one end with said bulb and at the opposite end with said electrical contact in said socket, said tubular means being movable with said head portion when said head portion is detached from said handle portion, said tubular means thereafter being readily separable from said head portion, said shoulders on said projections and said flanges on said socket serving in conjunction with said locking member and resilient means to firmly maintain said head portion in fixed operative relation to said handle portion.

3. In a diagnostic instrument or the like having a head portion and a handle portion connected together and adapted to be disconnected from each other when not in use, said instrument having connecting means comprising a socket member carried in fixed relation to said handle portion and having a central opening therein, a connecting member carried in relation to said head portion and of such size as to within said opening, said socket member having an electrical contact for supplying current centrally located therein and a plurality of equally spaced inwardly extending flanges formed on said socket member, said connecting member having an elongated passage therein and having a plurality of outwardly directed projections thereon and equally spaced from each other so as to receive said flanges therebetween, said plurality of equally spaced flanges and equally spaced projections allowing said head portion to be disposed in any one of a plurality of positions when said connecting member and said socket member are being assembled for use, a ring shaped locking member movably positioned within said socket, resilient means within said socket and urging said locking member toward said spaced flanges and the opening in the end of said socl-zet, said projections engaging said locking member as the head portion is being operatively positioned upon said handle portion and pressing said locking member inwardly against the action of said re silient means, said projections being provided with shoulders movable into alignment with said spaced flanges by rotational movement of said head portion relative to said handle portion while the locking member is pressed inwardly, tubular means frictionally fitting within said elongated passage and having an opening in its upper end for receiving and removably supporting a con centrated filament bulb in a predetermined position within said head portion, and having its lower end extending downwardly beyond said connecting member and within said ring shaped locking member, interengaging means on said tubular means and on said connecting member for preventing relative rotational displacement therebetween, and yieldable electrical means within said tubular means and having operative contact at one end with said bulb and at the opposite end with said electrical contact in said socket, said tubular means being movable with said head portion when said head portion is being detached from said handle portion, said tubular means and concentrated filament bulb being slidable lengthwise of said elongated passage when said head portion is detached, and removable from said head portion 50 as to expose said bulb, said shoulders on said projections and said flanges on said socket serving in conjunction with said locking member and resilient means to firmly maintain said head portion in fixed operative relation to said handle portion.

4. In a diagnostic instrument or the like having a head portion and a handle portion connected together and adapted to be disconnected from each other when not in use, said instrument having connecting means comprising a socket member carried in fixed relation to said handle portion and having a central opening therein, a connecting member carried in fixed relation to said head portion and of such size as to fit within said opening, said socket member having an electrical contact for supplying current centrally located therein and a plurality of equally spaced inwardly extending flanges formed on said socket member, said connecting member having an elongated passage therein and having a plurality of outwardly directed projections thereon and equally spaced from each other so as to receive said flanges therebetween, said plurality of equally spaced flanges and equally spaced projections allowing said head portion to be disposed in any one of a plurality of positions when said connecting member and said socket member are being assembled for use, a ring shaped locking member movably positioned within said socket and having a plurality of equally spaced recesses formed therein, resilient means within said socket and urging said locking member toward said spaced flanges and the opening in the end of said socket, means carried by said locking member and by said socket for preventing rotation of said locking member, projections engaging said locking member as the head portion is being operatively positioned upon said handle portion and pressing said locking member inwardly against the action or" resilient means, said projections being provided with shoulders movable into alignment with said spaced flanges by rotational movement of said head portion relative to said handle portion while the locking member is pressed inwardly, said recesses being so disposed relative to said spaced flanges as to be engaged by said projections upon rotational movement of s id projections into substantial alignment with flanges, thereby effecting an engagement between said projections and said recesses releasably locking said head portion against undesired rotation, tubular means frictionally fitting within said elongated passage and having an opening in its upper end for receiving and removabiy supporting a concentrated filament bulb in a predetermined position within said head portion, and having its lower end extending downwardly beyond said connecting member and within said ring shaped locking member, interengaging means on said tubular means and on said connecting member for preventing relative rotational displacement therebetween, yieldable electrical means within said tubular means and having operative contact at one end with said bulb and at the opposite end with said electrical contact in said socket, said tubular means being movable with said head portion when said head portion is being detached from said handle portion, said tubular means and concentrated filament bulb being slidable lengthwise of said elongated passage when said head portion is detached, and removable from said head portion so as to expose said bulb, said shoulders on said projections and said flanges on said socket serving in conjunction with said locking member and resilient means to firmly maintain said head portion in fixed operative relation to said handle portion.

5. In a diagnostic instrument or the like having a head portion and a handle portion con nected together and adapted to be disconnected from each other when not in use, said instrument having connecting means comprising a socket member carried in fixed relation to said handle portion and having a central opening therein, a connecting member carried in fixed relation to said head portion and of such size as to fit within said opening, said socket member having an electrical contact for supplying current centrally located therein and a plurality of equally spaced inwardly extending flanges formed on said socket member, said connecting member having an elongated passage therein and having a plurality of outwardly directed projections thereon and equally spaced from each other so as to receive said flanges therebetween, said plurality of equally spaced flanges and equally spaced projections allowing said head portion to be disposed in any one of a plurality of positions when said connecting member and said socket member are being assembled for use, a rin shaped locking member movably positioned within said socket, resilient means within said socket and urging said locking member toward said spaced flanges and the opening in the end of said socket, said projections engaging said locking member as the head portion is being operatively positioned upon said handle portion and pressing said locking member inwardly against the action of said resilient means, said projections being provided with shoulders movable into alignment with said spaced flanges by rotational movement of said head portion relative to said handle portion while the locking member is pressed inwardly, tubular means frictionally fitting within said elongated passage and having an opening in its upper end receiving and for removably supporting a concentrated filament bulb in a predetermined position within said head portion, and having its lower end extending downwardly beyond said connecting member and within said ring shaped locking member, interengaging means on said tubular means and on said connecting member for preventing relative rotational displacement therebetween, yieldable electrical means within said tubular means and having operative contact at one end with said bulb and at the opposite end with said electrical contact in said socket, and a resilient abutment carried by said socket and engaging said opposite end of said tubular means so as to urge said tubular means upwardly in said elongated passage and hold said bulb in said predetermined position, said tubular means being movable with said head portion when said head portion is being detached from said handle portion, said tubular means and concentrated filament bulb being slidable lengthwise of said elongated passage when said head portion is detached, and removable from said head portion so as to expose said bulb, said shoulders on said projections and said flanges on said socket serving in conjunction with said locking member and resilient means to firmly maintain said head portion in fixed operative relation to said handle portion.

6. In a diagnostic instrument or the like having a head portion and a handle portion connected together and adapted to be disconnected from each other when not in use, said instrument having connecting means comprising a socket member carried in fixed relation to said handle portion and having a central opening therein, a connecting member carried in fixed relation to said head portion and of such size as to fit within said opening, said socket member having an electrical contact centrally located therein and a plurality of equally spaced inwardly extending flanges formed on said socket member, said connecting member having an elongated passage therein and having a plurality of outwardly directed projections thereon and equally spaced from each other so as to receive said flanges therebetween, said plurality of equally spaced flanges and equally spaced projections allowing said head portion to be disposed in any one of a plurality of positions when said connecting member and said socket member are being assembled for use, a ring shaped locking member movably positioned within said socket and having a plurality of equally spaced recesses formed therein, resilient means within said socket and urging said locking member toward said spaced flanges and the opening in the end of said socket, means carried by said locking mem her and by said socket for preventing rotation of said locking member, said projections engaging said locking member as the head portion is being operatively positioned upon said handle portion and pressing said locking member inwardly against the action of said resilient means, said projections being provided with shoulders movable into alignment with said spaced flanges by rotational movement of said head portion relative to said handle portion while the locking member is pressed inwardly, said recesses being so disposed relative to said spaced flanges as to be engaged by said projections upon rotational movement of said projections into substantial alignment with said flanges, thereby effecting an engagement between said projections and said recesses releasably locking said head portion against undesired rotation, tubular means frictionally fitting within said elongated passage and having an opening in its upper end receiving and for removably supporting a concentrated filament bulb in a predetermined position within said head portion, and having its lower end extending downwardly beyond said connecting member and within said ring shaped locking member, interengaging means on said tubular means and on said connecting member for preventing relative rotational displacement therebetween, yieldable electrical means within said tubular means and having operative contact at one end with said bulb and at the opposite end with said electrical contact in said socket, and a resilient abutment carried by said socket and engaging said opposite end or" said tubular means so as to urge said tubular means upwardly in said elongated passage and hold said bulb in said predetermined position, said tubular means being movable with said head portion when said head portion is being detached from said handle portion, said tubular means and concentrated filament bulb being slidable lengthwise of said elongated passage when said head portion is detached, and removable from said head portion so as to expose said bulb, said shoulders on said projections and said flanges on said socket serving in conjunction with said locking member and resilient means to firmly maintain said head portion in fixed operative relation to said handle portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,990,972 Arnesen Feb. 12, 1935 2,102,625 Hubbell, Jr. Dec. 21, 1937 2,365,104 Peck et a1. Dec. 12, 1944 

